Surname Burgemeester - Meaning and Origin
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Burgemeester: What does the surname Burgemeester mean?
The last name Burgemeester is a Dutch surname which is derived from the old Dutch word ‘burgemeester’, which translates to ‘mayor’. The surname is believed to have originated in Europe, though its exact origin is unknown.
The name Burgemeester is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany, and is one of the oldest surnames in the Netherlands. It is derived from a long tradition whereby the mayors of cities held the title of 'burgermeester'. This title dates back to the late Middle Ages, when cities and towns began appointing a mayor who was responsible for taking care of their interests.
The name Burgemeester is derived from the verb ‘bergen’, which translates to ‘look after’ or ‘take care of’ and the suffix ‘-meester’, which means ‘master’ or ‘holder of’. Thus, the surname Burgemeester can be translated to ‘the master who looks after’ or ‘the caretaker’.
Though the surname has its roots in the profession of mayor, Burgemeesters today are not necessarily mayors - though some may continue to hold the title in respect of their ancestors. Those with the last name Burgemeester can be found in many countries throughout the world, as the surname has spread beyond its traditional Dutch and German roots.
Order DNA origin analysisBurgemeester: Where does the name Burgemeester come from?
The surname Burgemeester is of Dutch origin, meaning "Mayor". It is most commonly found in the Netherlands, where it was first established in the Middle Ages as a title for a magistrate or leader. The Burgemeesters were prominent members of their communities, appointed to lead and enforce the local laws.
Today the Burgemeester name is still quite common in the Netherlands, with many people in the country bearing the name. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, particularly in countries that have close historical ties with the Netherlands. Flanders, for example, also has many Burgemeesters, while Belgium is home to several dozen family names with Burgemeester origins simply due to the country's historical connections with the Netherlands. Elsewhere, such as in the United States, the surname is quite rare, but there are a few instances of people bearing the name and its various spelling variations.
Generally speaking, the surname Burgemeester still carries its original meaning of "Mayor" today and is a sign of respect and honor in many Dutch communities. People who bear the name are often thought of as upstanding citizens, ready to lead their local communities and promote justice.
Variations of the surname Burgemeester
Burgemeester is a Dutch surname, which means mayor in English. It is commonly spelled Burgemeester, but other variants and spellings include Burgmuller, Burgmaister, Burgmeijer, and Burgemaire.
The Burgemeester surname also has numerous variants derived from its Dutch origins. The Dutch language is rich in dialects and each of these dialects has slightly different ways of spelling the Burgemeester surname. For example, in some areas of the Netherlands, Burgmeister is a common variation. In the south, the variant Bürgmeister is also common.
In Germany, a related variation to Burgemeester is Bürgermeister, which is also commonly seen in German records. There are also less common German variants such as Beirgermeister, Beurgermeister and Beregermeister.
Burgemeester is often seen in combination with other surnames in Holland. Common combinations include Van der Burgemeijer, Verburgemeester, Laeuburgemeester and Zeeburgmeister.
In addition, the Burgemeester spelling is also seen in various other European countries, including Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland. In Belgium, the surnames Burgermeester or Burggraaf are commonly seen, while in Austrian areas, the surname Bürgermeister is very popular. In Luxembourg, Burgermaister is a common variation, and in Switzerland, the spelling Burgmeister is often seen.
Famous people with the name Burgemeester
- Kees (C.A.) Burgemeester: Dutch professional football coach.
- Klaas Burgemeester: Dutch modern pentathlete.
- Arnold Burgemeester: Dutch rower.
- Jan Burgemeester: Dutch cyclist.
- Mark Burgemeester: Dutch fashion designer.
- Nico Burgemeester: Dutch journalist and editor.
- Willem Burgemeester: Dutch actor and singer.
- Jan Willem Burgemeester: Dutch sculptor and artist.
- Roeland Burgemeester: Dutch actor.
- Biton Coulibaly: Dutch footballer and former mayor of the city of Utrecht, whose original last name was Burgemeester.